Camera.



Patented Oct. 2|, |902.

v c. BUTLER.

CIER. (Appuum ma@ luf u s. nos.) v

(lo Model.)

Patented Oct. 2|, |902 .om E u L A TR UE ,BIM .An .CCM A. 1m. P

y 2 Shests- Sheet 2 (lo Modal.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR CECIL BUTLER, 0F WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,891, dated October 21, 1902.

Application filed March 15, 1902. Serial No. 98.355. (No model.)

To a/Z whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR CECIL BUTLER, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Wollaston, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and nsefullmprovements in Cameras, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the said specification.

The invention relates to improvements in cameras, and has for its object to provide a foldingpocket-camera which is simple, strong, and durable in its construction and easy to be manipulated, and one in which a magazine plate-holder is included as one of the foldable parts thereof.

The folding pocket-camera which embodies my invention will comfortably carry a dozen plates of at least three and one-fourth inches by three and one-fourth inches or three and one-fourth inches by four and one-fourth inches in size. It is entirely complete in itself and can be used in the field without the use of dark slides or other similar encumbrances, and it is so compact when folded up that it may be readily carried in a coat-pocket of the ordinary size, notwithstanding that the magazine-holder has contained within it a dozen plates of the size above mentioned.

The general construction of the camera is such that there is ample room for a double lens, (not shown,) which may be made to screw out and be focused for short ranges, if required. There is also sufficient room for the view finder and a drop-shutter (not shown) of different speeds in front or at the back of the lens.

The invention consists, broadly, of a foldable pocket-camera which comprises or includes a magazine plate-holder as one of its foldable parts and which may be operated without the use of dark slides or other similar devices and is complet-e in itself.

The invention further consists of a supplemental boX containing the plates in combination with the said magazine, the said box being especially adapted for use in connection with the said magazine.

The invention further consists of the plate itself, which is especially adapted for use with the said magazine.

The invention further consists of a platetransferrer in combination with the said magazine and adapted to transfer a plate from the front of the pack of plates and deposit it in the rear of the said pack one plate at a time.

The invention further consists of the novel features of construction hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed ont in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the camera unfolded, the side of the magazine and the side and cover of the box containing the plates being removed, the said cover being inserted under the bottom of said box and the dummy plate in the rear of the said box. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the camera closed or folded, the top and the overlapping sides being partially broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plate-box looking toward the front and side. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the said box looking toward the rear and side. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the said box with the back removed. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the said box with the front removed. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the back of the magazine. Fig. 8 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the plate-transferrer. Fig. 10 is a view of a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 10 10 ofFig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the plate, and Fig. 12 is a view of a vertical section of the same.

Like numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views.

l denotes the front portion of the camera, slightly rounded and box-shaped.

2 and 3 denote, respectively, the top and bottom, similar in shape and extending the full length of the camera. The bottom 3 is not shown in the drawings, as it is concealed by the top and intervening parts.

4 and 5 denote the sides hinged to the front, which are similar in construction and boxshaped and provided, respectively, with inwardly-extending portions G and 7 and 8 and v9. The inwardly-extending portions 6 and 7 IOO overlap the inwardly-extending portions 8 and 9 when the camera is closed.

The front of the camera is provided with the ordinary lens and shutter, (not shown,') lens-aperture 10, and view-nder 11.

The top, bottom, and front of the camera are preferably made of wood and the sides of aluminium, the inwardly-extending portions of which are preferably made integral with the remaining portion thereof. The outward movement or spread of the sides is limited by means of the pins 12 and 13, located on the part 6 and operating in the slots 14 and 15, respectively, the slot 14 being located in the part 8 and the slot 15 in the underside of the top 2.

16 is a spiral spring, one end ofwhich is fastened to the front 1 on the inside. The other end is fastened to the part 8.

17 is a lid or cover made preferably of aluminium and hinged to the top to form a cover for the back of the camera when` closed.

The sides 4 and 5, together with their inwardly-extending portions and the cover, may be covered wit any suitable material, such as leather and the like, and form in connection with the front, top, and bottom a box compact in form and admirably adapted to contain the operating parts.

18 is the magazine plate-holder, hinged to the side 4 and substantially in the shape of a box, comprising a top 19, bottom 20, front 21, and back 22, and sides.y (Not shown.) The top and bottom of the magazine are preferably made of wood and the front, back, and sides of aluminium. The back 22 is hinged to the bottom and adapted to swing downwardly and provided with an aperture 23, covered with red colored glass or celluloid.

24 is a button provided with a tang operating in a grooved recess in the top of the magazine for keeping the back in a closed position when desired. l

25 is a spring secured to the side 4, having one of its ends exerting a continuous pressure against the top of the magazine.

26 is a projection extending along the lower edge of the magazine and adapted to engage a shoulder or ledge 27, extending along the edge of the side 5, thereby limiting the outward movement of the magazine.

27 and 28 are longitudinal slots in the top of the magazine, and 29 and 30 are light-excluding shutters covered with plush or velvet or other suitable material and hinged to the said top and adapted to operate within the said slots 27 and 28, respectively, as hereinafter set forth.

31 is an arched spring extending along the rear of the shutter 30, the force of which spring tends to constantly press the shutter toward the front, and 32 is an arm extending part way across the top of the magazine and working within the same. The rear portion of this arm is in the shape of a. pin or proj ection 33, around which is coiled a compressionspring 34. The forward part of the said arm g upside down. provided on the inside with flat arched springs into the slot 27 if the camera were tilted to such an extent that the plates were turned The backof the vmagazine is 37 37, which are adapted to continually press the pack of plates in the magazine forward toward the exposure-opening 38 in the front of the magazine, as hereinafter set forth.

40 is a barbed spring or catch secured to the rear portion of the top of the magazine and projecting downwardly and resting upon the top of the rear plate of the pack or upon the dummy plate 41, as the case maybe, and yet adaptedto yield and be pressed backward, as hereinafter stated. There is a similar catch or spring located on the rear portion of the top of the magazine and on a line with the catch 40, but not shown in the drawings.

Theunder side of the top of the magazine located back of the slot 28 is covered with velvet or plush or other suitable material for the purpose of excluding light.

42 denotes the plate-box, made preferably of pasteboard and containing a pack of a dozen plates 43 43 and a dummyy plate 41.v In Fig. 1 the dummy plate is located at the rear of the pack and in Fig. 3 it is located at the front of the pack and lies close to the front ofthe box, so that the light is yentirely excluded. The plate-box is composed of a removable top 44, provided with a flap or extension 45, gummed on the under side, abottom 46, sides 47 47, back 48, and front 49, provided with an exposure-opening 50. The plates rest flat against each other in the box,

and each one is wrapped in a stiiish dark-4 colored paper 51 or other like substance, preferably black and impervious to light, which entirely covers` the back and overlaps the top and bottom edges of the plate, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

52 and 53 are grooves having a width of about one-half thatof one of the plates extending along the front and rear,respectively, of the bottom 46 of the said box o'nthe inside, and 54 is a shoulder slightly cut away, curved at its upper part and extendingk along the front of the bottom of the box on the inside. The shoulder 54 may be termed a guidingshoulder and is for the purpose of allowing the lower end of the plate-transferrer, hereinafter described, to pass by and beyond the upturned edge of the paper 51' without striking the same. The grooves 52 and 53 permit the lower edge of the transferrer to pass by and extend slightly beyond the lower edge of the plate to prevent any possibility of the light reaching the plate.

ICO

TIO

`'ausm 55 55 denote slots in the back of the box, aud 56 is an aperture in the said back registering with the numbers located on the back of the plates and likewise registering with the said covered aperture 23 in the back of the magazine, so that the operator is able to see how many plates have been exposed.

57 57 denote a padding or stung made of some suitable springing or yielding material, such as stiiish paper or other like material, extending from the top part wayl down the sides on the inside. This paper .tends to keep the plates in proper position and allows the.outside edges of the transferrerto pass between the sides of the box and the side edge of the plate. v

5S denotes the plate-transferrer, preferably made of a'single sheetof aluminium, smooth and plain on the side which is toward the front of the camera when being operated and provided on the opposite sidewith vertical' grooves 59 59, extending from top to bottom.

60 is a dat piece of wood, having its outside edges inserted in the grooves and forming a portion of the upper part of the trausferrer. This part of the transferrer is provided with the recesses 61 61, and it may be made of aluminium, if deemed preferable.

62 G2 are strips of plush or velvet or the like material suitably secured to what may be called the inside of the transferrer for the purpose of excluding. light, and the grooves are preferably lined with plush or velvet or other like material. When not in use, they trausferreris inserted in the magazine through the slot 27, and it can be folded up with the other parts of the camera.

The operation of the device, in sofar as it has not been already disclosed, is as follows: The camera being closed, as shown in Fig. 2,when it is desired to use the same the lid or cover 17 is swung back against the top 2, as

shown in Fig. 1, and the swinging sides 4 and. 5 are spread out or opened like the covers of a book until stopped by the pins 12 and 13, working,V respectively, in the slots 14 and l5. The magazine then swingsout until the flange on the bottom of the magazine strikes the ledge or shoulder on the side 5, thespring 25 at the top of the magazine causing the out-- ward or rearward movement of. the said magazine. The front of the vmagazine vis thus brought to a vertical position. The plate transferrer or extractor is then pulled out and the back 22 of the magazine swuugdownsuicientlyto permit the insertion of the box of plates into the magazine. 'lhe said -box is then pushed -forward in the magazine until the front of the box rests against the front. of the magazine. The removable lid or cover 44 of the. box is then pulled out and inserted between the bottom of the boxand the bottom of the magazine. The back of the magazine is then closed audfasleneil. The dummy plate in front of the first plate of the pack is then extracted by means of the plate-trans;

ferrer and transferred to the rear of the pack i of plates in the following manner: 'Ihe transferrer is inserted in the forward slot in the top of the magazine and pressed downwardly between the front of 'the box and the first plate, thus forcing the shutter operating in said slot backward and causing the grooves of the edge of the transferrer to engage with or envelop the sides ofthe dummy. The transferrer is pressed downwardly until the top edge of the dummy strikes the horizontal piece of wood forming a ledge or shoulder in the upper part cfs-the transferrer. The transferrer is then pulled out, drawing the dummy with it by meansof the frictional contact between the. edges of the sides of the dummy and the inner surfaces of lthe grooves in the extractor, the plush or velvet in the inside'of said grooves increasing the frictional contact. The extractor, with thedummy, is then forced downwardly through the slot in the rear ofthe top of the magazine, the shutter being forced back by such movement until the barbed springs or catches enter the recesses and overlap the top edges of the dummy. The camera is now ready for use. n plate has been exposed, the transferrer is-withdrawn, but without the dummy. The barbed springs or catch impinging :upon or overlapping the topof the dummy hold it fast and it is left at the' rear of the pack. The transferrer is then inserted downwardly in theiforward slot of the'top of the magazine and the exposed plate withdrawn iu the samemnner the dummy was withdrawn, only the back of theplate covered with the paper being exposed. The paper on the back of the plate may then be written on and any desired memo-v randa or notes placed thereon indicating the length of exposure, subject, &c. The exposed plate is then placed at the rear of the dumm y, and so on until all the plates have been used. The springen the back of the magazine operates in the slots in the backvof, the plate-box When the first and presses continually and automatically forces the pack of plates and dummy toward the f ront of the magazine. The transferrer is then withdrawn, the back of the magazine opened, and the box containing the plates and d umm y withd rawn together with the coverof the box,l which has previously been inserted into its place in the top of the box. The gum on the under side of the flap ou the cover is moistened and stuck down on the back of the I zo box and the box put away or left in the ma Y v azine until wanted. If it is desiredto use t e camera still further, a second box of plates similar tothe first box is inserted into the magazine and operatedupon asbefore. By means of the above construction, as will readily. 'be seen, itis not necessary to use any dark `slide or other` simil-ar. incumbrance orv i plates are on'haud. lf it is desired to use the,

camera further, the back ofl thema'gazine. is closed and the 4magazine pushed towardvv the front of the camera'intheldirection of the ar* row imtil it is parallel with vthe sideli. The.

sides -l'and 5 .are vthen pressed 'toward each other inthe direction of the arrows until. they are parallel with each other, the spring aiding in 1l-swing the sidetowarath@ Side 4. The' lid or cover is then closed over the rear end' of `t he'c; lmera and fastened by any suitable means. VIt is to be observed that'th'o springs.

ou the back of the magazine operating inthe slots in the back of the'plate-box not-'only force the plates continually toward the front,` but create a space between the. lastplate of the This vis apparent, because thestiffpaper ou the plates forms a kind of spring and, together with the plates, would fill the box entirely were it notl for the actionv of the vsprings on the back ofthe f magai-ne'. This-springactiou ofthe paperv'excludes the light from the plates whenthe box is in the daylight by'pressing the dummy.. against the 4frorit andthe rear' plate against... the' back,thusshowi ng the'apertures at the" The boxof platesj -xear' portion 'ot said Supplemental magazine,

front and rear of the b'ox.

as it comesfromthe manufacturer is inclosul4 in an outer casing (not shown) for-'protection'.

Thislout'er casing is made,preferably, ofpastel .board and Ais similar to the ordinary. cover i'n.

which plates are usually packed. Itis, ho'w.- ever, removed before the box containing the plates-isinserted in themagazine. This outer casing ora similar casing of a new box of plates may beutilized'again as a cover for thebox .of plates when removed from the magazine. i The camera may beused withoutian y bellows, becauseit is intended that its various parts will be so perfectly fitted together and .assembled that it may be dispensed with.v

' magazine adapted to receive a removable s`up- The ordinarybellows, .howeven'has been shown vinthe drawings, as at G3 63, attached to the inside' of the cameraan'd the frontl of the magazine; a

. What I'elainr, land-desire vto secure by Let- 'ters'Patenm is-4 1. Afolding cameraomprising a front provided with a: lens, a top and bottom rigidly secu red to the saidfront, swin ging box-shaped sides, means for vlimiting the .spread of the saidsides, a'foldableswingingmagazine plateholder, means for rctaining'tlle said magazine m a vertical position, and a plate-transferrer for withdrawing vav plat-e in the front 'of the said magazine and depositing it at'the rear 'of tho other plaies in Athe saidmaga'l'inc, one plate at a'timc. a

2. Ina camera thecombination of a'main' magazine provided with means whereby a plu.-

` rality of plates may 'be successively exposed without the use o f individual'dark slides, a

Alre'i'n'ofvable supplemental I nagaziney adapted .w contain a plurality ofY` plates provided in# divid u ally 'witha backing impervious tolight,

main magazine. 3. In va camera, the-combination of a mail' means whereby saidplates may be succes-- .sively transferred from thefront to the rear ot saidsupplemental v magazineinv conjunc- @tionv` with' .said first meutionedimeans, and .'ineans whereby said 'supplemental lmagazine may-'beplace'flfiu 'and withdrawn from saidmagazine adapted to receive 'a removablesupplemental'- magazine containing a plurality of plates, said supplemental magazine being maiwma'gazine being providedwithopenings 'adapted tov aline with 'tlefforward andthe epenin'gsgrespecti-vely,atransferrer whereby the plates may be'suecessifvely moved through' said openings from the front to the rear of said supplemental mag'azine, and... means whereby v saidsu'pplerug'antal magazine .may be placed'in and withdrawn zfrom sa'd'main'.magazine.4

: 4. In alcamera, the c on'lbination of a main magazine adapted. to receive a removable supplementalv magazineco'utaining` a pluralityot` plates,- s'a'id supplemental magazine being.

u ailimagaz'i-ne .being provided with openings 'jg'inovable lighti-proof. shutters` closing "said i openings respectively,. a transferer' where by said plates maybesuceessively moved through said openings from the-front to the "adapted-Lobe o'pened at vone-edge, and's'aid 95 l .adapted to aline-write the' 'forward and the .rear of said supplemental magazine,'m'eans' adjacent to said forward opening and adaptmally be held within saidsupplementalmagazine, and means whereby said supplemental magazine may be placedV in and withdrawn from said main magazine.

5. In a camera, the combination of a main plenientalm'aga'zne containing a plurality of plates,` said supplemental magazine being' adapted to be opened at one edge, 'and' said main 'magazine being provided with openings adapted to aline with the-forward -and the rear portion of said supplemental magazine, movable light proof shutters closing said 'ed to `be actuated by said shutters whereby .the'plates in alinement therewith will norlos openings respectively, a transferrer whereby theplates may be successively moved through said openings from the vfront tothe rear of said supple-mental magazine, Ameans adjacentto said 'forwardl openings and adapted to be actuated bysaid shutter whereby theplates in .alinement therewithwill'be normally held, within said supplemental magazine,- means whergby the plate will beheld within the rear vof said supplemental magazine to Apermit the withdrawal of the-'said trausferrer empty, and means whereby 'said supplementalxinagazine.

'may b lgllaced= in' and withdrawn from :said Imam magazine'.

(l. Ina eamera,.the combinatiouotamaiu magazine adapted to receive aremovable sup- I plemental magazine containing a plurality of plates, said supplemental magazine being adapted to be opened at one edge, and said main magazine being provided with openings adapted to aline with the forward and the rear portion of said supplemental magazine, movable lightproof shutters closing said openings respectively, a transferrer whereby the plates may be successively moved through said openings from the front to the rear of said supplemental magazine, a spring-controlled arm provided with a projection 36 adjacent to said forward opening and adapted t0 be actuated by said shutter whereby the plates in alinement therewith Ywill be normally held within said vsupplemental magazine, a spring-catch whereby the plate will be held within the rear of said supplemental magazine to permit the withdrawal of said transferrer empty, and means whereby said supplemental magazine may be placed in and withdrawn from said main magazine.

7. In a camera, the combination of a main magazine adapted to receive a removable supplemental magazine containing a plurality of plates, said supplemental magazine being adapted to be opened at one edge, and said main magazine being provided with openings adapted to aliney with the forward and the rear portion of said supplemental magazine, movable lightproof shutters closing said openings respectively, a transferrer whereby the plates may be successively moved through said openings from the front to the rear of said supplemental magazine, and a removable back whereby said supplemental magazine may be placed in and removed from said main magazine.

8. In a camera, the combination of a main magazine adapted to receive a removable supplemental magazine containing a plurality of plates, said supplemental magazine being adapted to be opened at one side and having an exposure-opening and openings in the rear thereof, and said main magazine being provided with openings adapted to aline with the forward and the rear portions of said supplemental magazine, movable light proof shutters closing said openings respectively, a transferrer whereby the plates may be successively moved through said openings from the front to the rear of said supplemental magazine, and a removable back provided with springs adapted to pass through the rear openings in said supplemental magazine whereby said supplemental magazine may be placed in and removed from said main magazine and the plates contained therein may be subjected to a constant pressure to force them toward the exposure-opening thereof.

9. In a camera, a supplemental magazine comprising a box provided with an exposureopening and an open edge, said box being adapted to contain a plurality of plates indi` vidually provided with a backing impervious to light, and a slide for closing said exposureopeniu g.

10. In a camera, a supplemental magazine comprising a box provided with an exposureopening and an open edge, said box being adapted to receive a plurality of plates individually inclosed except on the sensitized face by a flexible, removable cover impervious to light, said cover inclosing the edges of said plate, and a slide for closing said exposure-opening.

11. In a camera, a supplemental magazine comprising a box provided with an exposureopening and an open edge, said box being adapted to receive a plurality of plates individually inclosed except on the sensitized face by a flexible, removable cover impervious to light, said cover inclosing the edges of said plate, a slide for closing said exposure-opening, and a removable cap for closing said edge.

12. In a camera, a supplemental magazine comprising a box provided with an exposureopening, openings directly opposite said exposure-opening and an open edge, said box being adapted to receive a plurality of plates individually inclosed except on the sensitized face by a flexible, removable cover impervious to light, said cover inclosing the edges of said plate, a slide for closing said exposureopening, and a removable cover for closing said edge.

13. In a camera, a supplemental magazine comprising a box provided with an exposureopening, openings directly opposite said exposure-opening and an open edge, said box being adapted to receive a plurality of plates individually inclosed except on the sensitized face by a flexible, removable cover imperviou s to light, said cover inclosing the edges ot said plate, a slide for closing said exposure-opening, a removable cover for closing said edge, and resilient side strips adapted to center the plates contained therein.

14. In a camera, a supplemental magazine comprising a box provided with an exposureopening and an open edge, said box being adapted to receive a plurality of plates individ uallyinclosed except on the sensitized face by a flexible, removable cover impervious to light, said cover inclosing the edges of said plate, and a slide for closing said exposureopening, in combination with a main magazine adapted to receive said supplemental magazine and provided with means whereby said slide and said plates therein contained may be successively removed from the front to the rear thereof, and a transferrer comprising a slab adapted to cover the sensitized face of said plate, grooved side extensions adapted to inclose the opposite edges of the slide or plate, and means whereby light will be excluded from the plate while in said transferrer.

15. In a camera, a supplemental magazine comprising a box provided with an exposureopening and an open edge, said box being adapted to receive a plurality of plates individually inclosed except on the sensitized face by a flexible, removable cover impervious to IOO light, said cover inclosing the edges of said plate, a slide for closing said exposure-openl ing, and a guiding-shoulder 54 in combination posite sides thereof, a cross-bar 60 extending betweensaid extensions', strips 62 and a flexible lining to said grooves whereby light will be excluded from the plate while in said transferrer, and recesses in said cross-bar whereby a plate therein contained may be engaged to permit the Withdrawal of the transferrer, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 11th day of March, 1902, in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR onoIL BUTLER.

Witnesses:

N. L. FROTHINGHAM, A. A. ASHMAN. 

